The article below was written by Hannah Holden of National Club Golfer.
If you’re going to spend all that money on a new set of clubs, the least you can do is make sure the fitting is carried out properly. Hannah Holden has a few tips.
Golf club fitting mistakes: getting fit with a range ball
Range balls are range balls for a reason. They are a cheaper product that don’t fly as far or have the same spin and flight characteristics as a premium golf ball.
If you’re going to get fitted, spin is a big variable that helps with precision and control. Not being able to measure this accurately could be detrimental to your overall performance.
So, if possible, always do your research and go somewhere where you can hit a premium golf ball.
Golf club fitting mistakes: only getting fit inside
Swing rooms are great for when you are working on technique and getting coaching, but compared to the golf course they are very artificial. Generally you hit off a square mat in a square room which will completely change your alignment and sometimes even your swing. Because of this you definitely won’t see how that club is performing for you.
That is before we even take into account that you cannot see the ball flight or see how the outside elements are reacting with the ball. Personally I like to try and get a fitting outside or on a driving range where I can hit out and see the ball flight.
Golf club fitting mistakes: only trying clubs from one brand
You’ve got fourteen clubs, plus a golf ball in your bag. The chances of each one of those pieces of equipment performing the best for you, from one brand, is very slim. So I would always recommend going somewhere and trying out different options.
There are loads of great driving ranges and fitting centres that have loads of options of different brands available. So go in, test them out and see which is your favourite. Then if there’s one brand you really like go ahead and head to their local fitting centre and get really dialled in.
Golf club fitting mistakes: testing putters on short putts
We’ve all picked up a putter in the pro shop that has caught our eye, hit a few short putts with it inside and decided it is the one. Then inevitably you get out on the golf course and it doesn’t perform.
Pace putting is crucial to scoring well so you need to test a putter out on a wide variety of length putts as well as on different slopes to see if it really suits your game. So when you’re out testing a putter, you really need to go to those long distances and check if the putter works for you from there.
Golf club fitting mistakes: not testing all the options available
It’s really easy to go into a fitting with a preconceived idea of which club is right for you. Maybe it’s Rory’s blades or maybe it’s the most forgiving offering on the market.
You should be exploring all the options available. After all, different clubs perform completely differently for all golfers. Each year there are also more interesting options to help your game. Take the Wilson Launch Pad irons, for example. They have a hybrid-like performance in an iron shaping to deliver forgiveness and ease of use.
It’s worth going into a fitting very open minded and testing out all the options available so you get the clubs that suit you the most.
Golf club fitting mistakes: only testing a club once
Think how much your swing and performance changes from day-to-day. Testing clubs on just one occasion probably isn’t going to give you the best reflection of how they will help your game.
I always try to test things out twice, even if it is just once on your own at a range with demos and then again in a proper fitting environment. If you have a pro shop that has demos it can also be a great idea to play a few holes with a club to see how it performs for you out on the course.
